Sky LaJoie, left, whose family grows potatoes in Van Buren, discusses the qualities of the Caribou Russet during last year's Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor. The potato variety made its debut at the 2016 event and was featured again during the 2017 Harvest Festival Nov. 11 and 12. (File photo/Dawn Gagnon, BDN)

Sky LaJoie, left, whose family grows potatoes in Van Buren, discusses the qualities of the Caribou Russet during last year's Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor. The potato variety made its debut at the 2016 event and was featured again during the 2017 Harvest Festival Nov. 11 and 12. (File photo/Dawn Gagnon, BDN)

Local russet to gain statewide exposure

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Maine Potato Board announced Nov. 9 that the popular Caribou Russet potato would once again be available to consumers at the Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor the weekend of Nov. 11 and 12, and later at statewide retail outlets.

The Caribou Russet was developed by the University of Maine, and is a dual-purpose, russet-skinned variety with high yields, midseason maturity and moderate common scab resistance. In addition to fresh-market consumption, the new variety is also useful for processing markets.

The variety was first made available to consumers at last year’s Maine Harvest Festival, where the supply sold out quickly. This year, the Maine Potato Board stocked more for the festival and the spuds will be more widely available afterward, as well.

“It’s always exciting when we can introduce something new to the market,” said Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board. “Last year, we introduced the Caribou Russet and saw nearly instant favorability.

“We call this the potato lover’s potato because of the natural flavor and versatility of it,” Flannery said. “We’re excited that more consumers will get a chance to fall in love with the Caribou Russet this year.”

The week following the festival, the Caribou Russet will be available at Hannaford Supermarkets statewide and Tradewinds markets in Eastern Maine. This is the first year the potato will be available at Hannaford.